Pageprinter



Dec. 16, 1958 I J. w. AUGUSTIN I 2,864,482

' PAGEPRINTER Filed Sept. 11, 1953 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHANN W. AUGUSTIN I NVENTOR BY AT TORNEY Dec. 16, 1958 J. w. AUGUSTIN PAGEPRINTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 11 1953 JOHANN W AUGUST IN iNVENTOR ATTOR NEY types of letters, upper and lower case.

United. States Patent PAGEPRINTER Johann Wilhelm Augustin, Pforzheim, Germany, asslgnor to C. Lorenz Alttiengesellschaft, Stuttgart-Zuifenhausen, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,669

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-49) This invention relates to improvements in or concerning page-printing devices and more particularly to pageprinters having type elements which are movable longitudinally with respect to the recording medium utilized in said devices.

In page-printers, it is required that the letters be printed in lines, and that the printed letters be visible, viz. that they are not hidden by the printing device or any other component parts.

The term pageprinter" is intended to include all machines capable of printing on a page, for example typewriters, calculating machines, any other business machines, printing telegraphic apparatus, etc.

Various methods have become known according to the prior art for receiving a received telegraph signal by means of a receiving system and, finally, for having this signal printed. Experience has shown that those methods are the best in which the letter'is printed by means of a printing type, because it is possible with this method to provide each letter with an individual character, thus obtaining a clear and well-readable impression. In such types of apparatus the printing is performed either by means of type-levers, on which the type faces are mounted, or else by means of a type-wheel, around the circumference of which the several type faces are disposed."

Furthermore devices are known in which the type elements are movably guided in a type-wheel or a type-box and are projected out of their position by a printing hammer.

The most well-known inethod employs a rubber covered type cylinder or platen over the circumference of which the paper is guided upwards from below. the paper a type-basket is arranged in which the individual type-levers are pivoted. Between the paper and the type an ink ribbon is interposed so that a print will be produced on the paper whenever the typelever hits the ribbon.

Teleprinters, constructed according to the aforesaid method, are usually equipped with a moving type-basket. In such types of page printers the type-basket is always moved one step on towards the right, so that the next successive letter is always printed next to the preceding one. The selection of the type to be printed is performed by a stationary selecting mechanism via bars which are capable of being tilted and which extend over the entire width of movement of the type-basket carriage.

In addition, the printingplaten is raised or lowered be cause generally the type-levers are furnished with two By shifting the platen it is possible to selectively print either the lower case or upper case letters.

Furthermore, systems employing a printing platen and a type-basket are known, in which the type-basket is fixed arranged and the platen together with its sheet of paper which is to be printed upon, is moved one step on towards the left after each printed letter..

As in the previously described method it is alsorequired in this case that the next successive letter to be printed will appear next to the preceding one. In order In front of v to etiect a case shift, the platen must be raised or lowered, a

dependent upon the case desired.

For rendering the writing visible after the. performed printing, the ink ribbon, which is led along directly in' tively costly mechanism whichis required for returning the relatively substantial masses to be moved, e. g. in

the one case the moving type-basket and in the other.

case the printing cylinder, as well as the paper guide and the spool carrying the paper supply, from the end of the line into the initial position during a very short interval of time. This presents some ditficultyvbecause the acceleration and the retardation (reducing the speed by braking), have to be very high. In modern types of teleprinters with their high writing speed the carriage return must be carried out in about one tenth of a second. Besides, the complex mechanism for stepping the printing cylinder and the paper transport mechanism and for guiding the paper in machines operating with a moving printing cylinder, is understandably expensive.

Similar conditions exist in teleprinters employing a moving type-basket and in which the selected telegraph signal has to be translated onthe type-basket by means of actuating bars which are capable of being tilted and which extend over the entire width of motion.

For the purpose of simplifying the translation of the received telegraph signal to the type-basket, teleprinters have also become known lately, which are equipped with a square shaft extending across the entire width of motion of the type-basket. In such types of apparatus the receiving selecting bars are arranged stationary in the immediate vicinity of the likewise stationary receiving system. The selecting bars are arranged circularly and are displaced in relation to each other according to the character of the received telegraph signal. The selecting bars are provided with a distinctively cut slot into which a single one of a group of 32 code levers may penetrate, one for each different code combination. A concentrically arranged exploring end of a lever which is rigidly attached to the aforementioned square shaft pushes each time against the engaging lever, thus providing the square shaft with a certain angular position. A guide bushing which is shiftably pivoted on this square shaft, translates therotary motion in co-operation with conical wheels or helically geared wheels to a second square shaft which is arranged rectangularly in relation to the first shaft. This second shaft is provided at its front end with a lever designed like a propeller and is axially displaceable. Moreover, the second shaft is rigidly connected to the moving type-basket. The lever which is designed like a propeller is arranged directly in front The receiving system performs the setting of the are;

larly arranged receiving selecting bars, so that one of the concentrically arranged levers is enabled to engage the selecting .bars. The square shaft is driven-via a pressure clutch and a friction clutch, so that the exploring end of a lever, rotating in front of the concentrically arranged levers, engages the selected lever. .Thereby the square shaft, which is rigidly connected to the exploring end of the lever, is caused to occupy a predetermined angular position which will be translated via the intermediate gear to the second shaft which is attached to the typebasket. Thereafter, the lever which is designed in the shape of a propeller, is placed in front ofone of the tension bars arranged in a semi-circle. Thereuport a pressure latch displaces the second shaft inthedirection towards the type-basket whereby the lever designed like a,ass,sss

3 a propeller actuates the opposing tension bar, which in turn swivels out the corresponding type-lever, thus performing the printing.

With these types of apparatus it may be regarded as a drawback that the weight of the type-basket has remained unchanged in comparison with the first-mentioned arrangement and that, in view thereof, the difliculties regarding the mass acceleration and retardation still exist. Furthermore, devices are known in which a type-wheel h employed as a printing device for the purpose of avoiding the described disadvantages which are due to the a heavy mass of the type-basket. The setting of the typewheel is performed in a similar way as in'the method described above. After the type-wheel has been brought by the square shaft and the intermediate gear into the respective printing position, it will be pressed against the paper, thus effecting the printing.

In teleprinters of this kind it is a disadvantage that the angular position of the type-wheel is inaccurate on account of the unavoidable play between the gear teeth and the unavoidable play existing on the square shaft. For this reason the latters are not printed with a proper space between them. Apart therefrom, the type-wheel which has been projected against the paper, produces a considerably less uniform impression than the devices which are equipped with type-levers.

Consequently, the letters appear to be non-uniform as regards their quality of print. For avoiding this, devices also have become known in which the individual types are not rigidly fixed to the type-wheel, but are guided in slots and projected out of their normal position in the printing position by means of a special type printing hammer. A spring takes care of returning the type to its position of rest.

Teleprinters of this kind, however, have the disadvantage that the inaccuracies with respect to the preparing position of the type-wheel are still existent, now as before, and that the type printing hammer which proiects the respective type into the printing position, naturally causes a damaging of the type, which means a relatively short service life of the apparatus.

Furthermore, page-printing types of teleprinters are known, in which a type-plate is employed instead of the usual type-wheel or type-basket. In these machines the type-plate, in which each type is individually guided, is lowered, lifted or moved laterally into the respective position. A specially provided type printing hammer proiects the respective type out of the type-plate for printing.

These types of teleprinters have the disadvantage that the required translating means are very complicated and that the position of the printed letters within a line is non-uniform, because the type-plate moves in several planes. Moreover, in this system excessive wear and tear of the types, caused by the striking type printing hammer, is noticeable Lately, also, such types of apparatus have become known in which, for the purpose of simplifying thetranslating means of the receiving system and of the printing device, the printing device together with the receiving system and a motor are assembled in one structural unit, and in which the printing device, including the receiving system and the motor, is moved back and forth in front of the paper during the printing operation.

These types of machines have the disadvantage that the masses of the constituent parts, moving back and forth during the writing, are very considerable, which causes an increase in the ditliculties regarding the mass acceleration and retardation. Besides, it appears to be a drawback that the sensitive receiving system has to move back and forth, whereby at the impact of the type printing hammer, including the receiving system and the motor, upon the stop in the normal position, the armature of the receiving system magnet produces oscillations which are likely to erroneously release a signal. Furthermore, it is a disadvanta e in this case that the power 4 leads for the receiving system and the motor have to extend to the moving device, which again results in a quicker wear of the flexible connecting cables or the current-earrying bars, respectively.

For the purpose of avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks it is suggested by the present invention to arrange a type-wheel at the back of the printing paper, and to arrange the ink ribbon as well as a type printing hammer, having a structure similar to that of a type-lever,'in front of the paper. Y

The invention will be particularly described with ref (cream: to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic front elevation showing the movable carriage in accordance with my invention, and t Fig. 2 is a schematic end view of the structure shown in Fig. l.

A type-wheel 2 (Fig. 2) is arranged in a'shiftable, but non-rotatable manner, on a shaft 1 extending across the entire width of the line. (In the following this shaft will be called the type-wheel shaft.) Around the periphery of the type-wheel 2 the letters A Z are arranged vertically in a row, and the numerals and signs, etc. in a second row, said rows being spaced from each other. The printing paper 3 proceeds in front of type wheel 2 in an upward direction. In accordance with the received telegraph signal the type-wheel shaft 1 will be brought into a predetermined angular position. This may be effected either by means of a receiving system with circularly arranged selecting bars 4 (Fig. 1), which may be seized by one of several (generally 32) available code levers 5, and against which thereafter, a stop lever 6 may act. Stop lever 6'is mounted on the type-wheel shaft 1 and is positioned concentrically between the receiving selecting bars, or one of the conventional aggregate motion selecting systems may be used for the setting, in which the angular setting of the type-wheel shaft 1 will be effected by the aggregation of several motions. In such aggregate motion selecting systems the first motion effects a turning of the type-wheel shaft and, therewith, of the type-wheel itself, by Vs, the sec- 0nd one a turning by /4, the third one a turning by /8, etc.

For shifting the type-wheel 2 laterally one may use a rack, or more conveniently a toothed lead screw 1, lying parallel to the type-wheel shaft 1. The lead screw 7 is adapted to move the type-wheel 2 to the right, each time after a performed printing, a distance equal to the width of a letter. The lead screw 7, lying parallel to the type-wheel shaft, is not directly connected with the type-wheel, but indirectly via a pawl 8, so that when the pawl 8 is disengaged from the thread of the lead screw 7, or the teeth of the rack respectively, the typewheel 2 is capable of being returned by the action of a spring 9 (Fig. 1) back to its normal position on the type-wheel shaft 1. In front of the paper 3 the type printing hammer 10, which is horizontally movably mounted on a bar 11, will likewise be shifted at each printing by the width of a letter. Also, in this case a pawl 12 engages a second lead screw 13 or the teeth ,of a rack, respectively, and when the pawl 12 is disengaged, the type printing hammer, 10 will be restored to normal position by the action of spring 9. The inventive arrangement, as described above, has the advantage that'no reversing gears or other toothed Wheels are required between the actual selecting devices and the type-wheel, by means of which it is possible to achieve an extremely high setting accuracy of the type-wheel 2. By this arrangement it is ensured that the printed letters are always properly in a straight line, and that also the space between the letters in the horizontal direction, is uniform.

Furthermore, it is achieved by this arrangement that the masses, which have to be moved for the purpose of setting the type-wheel, are extremely small. The same is applicable to the masses which have to be moved if the type-wheel, together with theprinting hammer in front of the paper '3, are to be returned from the final position of the line to the initial position of the line, because in this case only the type-wheel and the type printing hammer are moved or shifted, respectively.

Since both parts, in comparison with the conventional arrangements, e. g. type-baskets or receiving system, printing device and motor, are relatively light, there result considerable simplifications with regard to the total construction of the apparatus. Moreover, the type printing hammer does not require to be mounted with thegreat accuracy which was heretofore demanded from type-levers, or the like.

Further, this method offers the very substantial advantage, by employing very simple means, of varying the striking strength, e. g. by tensioning a spring 14, in order to adapt the striking strength to the required operating conditions. This isof some importance if it is intended to make several copies.

Apart from the foregoing, the invention permits a relatively simple arrangement for achieving a figure shift. To achieve figure shift it is necessary only that the two lead screws 7 and 13 serving to control the horizontal transport of the type-wheel and the type printing hammer respectively, are shifted laterally by the width of a letter which corresponds to the space between the two rows of letters or numerals respectively, which are mounted on the type-wheel. Since the lead screws 7 and 13 are independently operated, the figure shift is readily obtained by permitting the hammer to advance a distance equal to the width of a letter under control of its lead screw 13. Subsequently, the letter shift is achieved by advancing the type wheel a distance equal to the width of two letters whilst the type hammer is advanced by only a single space By this means the entire construction of the apparatus is considerably simplified, because the case shift is carried out without the usual movement of the printing cylinder in the vertical direction when changing over from the one into the other group of types. This also results in considerable technical simplification as regards the transport of the printing paper 3 and when changing over to a new line. Another advantage is that the type-faces are prevented from getting clogged by contact with the ink ribbon, so that a clean impression is always obtained. Since the type-faces are thus prevented from getting clogged, there is no danger that component parts lying below the ink ribbon will become fouled due to dirt falling from the type faces.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a page printer operating with type printing according to the present invention is constructed as follows:

The type-wheel 2 is mounted on the type-wheel shaft 1 and is shiftable in a horizontal direction, but not in a vertical direction. On the outer circumference of the type-wheel there are arranged the different type-faces A Z. A bearing member 35 holds the type-wheel 2 and is furnished with a pawl 8 pivoted at point 22. The action of a spring presses this pawl 8 into the threads of a lead screw 7. The pawl 8 has a laterally extending arm'16 which is opposed by a flap 17 reaching across the entire width of the line. The fiap- 17 is arranged to pivot upwardly about the turning point 18. The paper 3 is guided in fixed guide track 19 and is transported by means of rollers 20 and 21 from below the machine in an upward direction. In front of the paper 3 there is arranged the inking ribbon 34, which is held on both of the ribbon spools 23 and 24. For lifting and lowering the inking ribbon there is provided a ribbon guiding fork 25 of a conventional design. Between the two ribbon spools there is disposed the type printing hammer 10. a slot 26 at the lower end of which engages a flap 27 which extends along the entire width of the line. The type printing hammer is pivoted at the turning point 38, and the flap 27 is pivoted at the turning point 28. The mounting block 29 for the type printing hammer 10 is provided at one end with a pawl 12, which engages the threads of the lead screw 13 by the action of a spring 30. The pawl 12 has at its lower end an elongation 31 which is designed to be actuated by a flap 32, stretching along. the entire width of the line and pivoted at point 33. The mountingblock 29 is designed to travel along not only on lead screw 13,- butalso on a bar 11 which acts as a track. The type printing hammer 10 is provided with a striking portion 36 which portion is of a hard material such as steel; and the portion 36 is connected to the body of the hammer by means of the separating layer 37 which may be of resilient mater'ial such as rubber. The layer 37 will aid in reducing vibration caused by the striking blows of the hammer.

The operation of the embodiment described above is as follows:

The type-wheel 2 is turned into the required position by means of shaft 1 under control of the selecting device so that the letter to be printed will be placed at the printing point. Before the type-wheel 2 approaches this final position, however, the printing process is initiated via the flap 27. For the purpose of performing the printing process the flap 27 is pivoted clockwise, so that the type printing hammer 10 will be actuated and project the ribbon 34 against the paper 3. Since the ribbon 34 causes a printing upon the paper 3 only at the point where the necessary surface pressure is obtained, a clean print will be produced on the front surface of the paper, although the actual type is arranged at the back surface of the paper. After the printing hammer 10 strikes the type the hammer will return to normal position and the ribbon 34, which is guided in the ribbon fork 25, will be retracted downwardly a small distance in the conventional manner, so that the printed letter will become visible. Whilst the type printer hammer 10 is proceeding to its normal rest position, the type wheel 2 may be angularly displaced into a new position by the receiving selecting system. This new position will then correspond to the subsequently received telegraph signal. Before the type-wheel 2 occupies its new position, the ribbon 34 will be lifted again by means of the ribbon fork 25, and the process will be repeated as described in the foregoing. The two lead screws 7 and 13 are rotated after each printing of aletter by a predetermined amount, so that the type-wheel 2 with its mounting 35 as well as the type printing hammer 10 with its mounting block 29 are moved to the right a distance equal to the space ofa letter. For the purpose of returning the type-wheel 2 as well as the type printing hammer 10 to the initial position of the line, the flaps 17 and 32 are actuated in a known manner (not shown), whereby the pawls 8 and 12 will be disengaged from the lead screws 7 and 13. By the action of a spring 9 both component parts will be drawn back to the initial position of the line in the conventional manner. For typing a new line the paper 3 will be moved upwards a distance equal to the space of a line in a known manner (not shown).

Detent means for accurately centering the type-wheel 2 in a selected position comprises a toothed disk 39 attachedto the wheel. The troughs between the teeth on the disk 39 are engaged by a detent 40 pivoted on the member'35 and urged against the peripheryof the disk 39 by a spring 41.

While I have described above the principles of my invention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my invention as set forth in the objects thereof and in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A page printing machine comprising a rotatable type carrier, means to selectively rotate said carrier to predetermined angular positions, marking means adjacent a medium intermediate said carrier and said marking means in adirection normal to the lateral movement of said carrier, said carrier being within said machine and adapted to be isolated from said marking means by said recording medium, said marking means being adapted to mark said medium at a point in register with the selected angular and lateral position of said carrier.

2. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for removing said marking means from said registration point after marking of said medium, whereby the printed character may be read from .without 'said machine.

3. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for laterallyreturning said carrier and said marking means attached between said carrier and said marking means on the one hand and a point fixed with respect thereto, on the other.

4. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separate lateral moving means comprises a rail and a lead screw extending parallel to the direction of lateral movement of said marking means.

5. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said marking means comprises a printing hammer and an inking ribbon, said hammer adapted to urge said ribbon against the outside surface of said recording medium, and to urge the inside surface of said recording,

mediumagainst said carrier.

6. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for laterally moving said carrier comprises means for stepping along said carrier a distance equal to the width of one or two printed characters depending upon the type of character to be printed, said stepping means operable between the preceding and subsequent printing of a character upon said medium.

7. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for selectively rotating said carrier comprises an aggregate motion selecting device.

8. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier comprises a type wheel, and detent means coupled to said wheel, said detent means adapted to correct an angular setting of said wheel within close limits.

9. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said type carrier comprises a wheel having a pair of axially spaced circumferential rows of characters, the spacing between said rows being equal to the width of a printed character, one of said rows comprising a group of letter characters and the other of said rows comprising a group of figure,'punctuation and sign characters, said means for lateraly moving said carrier including means for selectively bringing either of said rows into register with said marking means depending upon whether a letter or a figure is to be printed on said recording medium.

10. A page printing machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said marking means comprises a type hammer having a configuration of a type lever, and a movable .ink ribbon disposed between a pair of spaced spools, and

additional means for guiding said ribbon in front of said point of registry and lowering means coupled to said additional guide means for lowering said ribbon from said point of registry after the operation of said hammer, whereby the recorded intelligence may be readily inspected.

11. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for laterally moving said carrier comprises a second lead screw extending parallel to the direction of lateral movement of said carrier.

12. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for selectively bringing either of said rows of characters into register with said marking means comprises a lead screw, engaging means coupled to said carrier and adapted to normally engage said lead screw, and disengaging means fixed with respect to said carrier for selectively disengaging said engaging means.

13. A page printing machine as claimed in claim 10, further comprising actuating means fixed with respect to said hammer, said actuating means adapted to selectively actuate said hammer a predetermined time after rotation of said carrier, and adjustable linking means adjustably linking said hammer with said actuating means, whereby said hammer may be provided with a preselected amount of striking force, dependent upon the setting of said adjustable linking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Buhler et al. ..,..Ian. 4, 1939 

